When Xuan Yuan Che wrapped his arm around Qin Shu’s waist, pulling their bodies flush against each other, she sensed something was about to happen. Though his confession took her by surprise, given their current “situation,” it didn’t seem entirely out of place—just slightly abrupt.
At this moment, the hall contained only the two of them. Moreover, this inner chamber was Xuan Yuan Che’s true bedchamber, making it more secluded and tranquil than any other place.
The atmosphere between them now was intensely intimate, far more palpable than when she had first addressed him as “husband.”
Qin Shu met Xuan Yuan Che’s gaze, so close she could feel its heat and tenderness intertwined, brimming with eager anticipation as he awaited her response.
Pressed tightly against him in his embrace, she could also sense the tension rigidly coiled in his body.
Her eyes drifted slightly downward, settling on his thin lips. They looked incredibly inviting to kiss. She mused: having such an exceptionally handsome man right before her—why not seize the opportunity? Besides, given their relationship, what was the harm in a simple kiss?
Noticing her gaze, Xuan Yuan Che gradually loosened his arm around her waist and lowered his eyes. “I was too impatient, I…”
Qin Shu: “It’s fine.”
Xuan Yuan Che froze. “Shu’er, you said it’s fine?”
Qin Shu raised her hands, hooking them over Xuan Yuan Che’s broad shoulders. Tilting her head up, she smiled at him and said, “Your… husband, didn’t you want to?”
Xuan Yuan Che: “If you’re unwilling, it’s alright.”
Observing the bob of his Adam’s apple as he swallowed, Qin Shu replied with a hint of deliberate teasing, “I’m not unwilling. If it’s truly alright with you, husband, then why don’t you let me go first?”
As she finished speaking, Qin Shu noticed that Xuan Yuan Che’s arm around her waist showed no intention of loosening its hold. Sure enough—a man whose words contradicted his actions.
Just as she was inwardly grumbling and mocking him, she felt a warm softness press against her lips…
Xuan Yuan Che leaned in, lowering his head to gently brush her tender, cherry-red lips. A sweet, velvety sensation bloomed between them, as if he were tasting the legendary Jade Pool Divine Dew—an experience so unforgettable it would linger for a lifetime.
Qin Shu’s eyes remained open, while Xuan Yuan Che’s were tightly shut. His breathing grew heavy, rasping through his nostrils. This guy—he said he wanted to kiss her, yet all he did was press his lips to hers without any further movement.
Wait, wasn’t he the one who said he wanted to kiss her? So why was he the one stiff and awkward when it actually happened?
Although Qin Shu had zero practical experience in this area, she had lived two lifetimes. In her previous world and era, attitudes toward intimacy between men and women weren’t rigid, and she knew everything an adult ought to know.
Frankly, she had never seen anyone kiss the way Xuan Yuan Che did—lips pressed motionlessly together.
Alright, she admitted it—just as she had anticipated, Xuan Yuan Che’s lips were indeed wonderful to kiss, even surpassing her expectations.
But she could tell from his posture that he seemed ready to end it. Their first kiss—just like that?
The thought of it ending so hastily was unacceptable to her. Who ends a first kiss with just a touch and nothing more?
Qin Shu’s hands, which were originally resting on Xuan Yuan Che’s shoulders, immediately wrapped around the back of his neck, encircling it. Just as he was about to pull away, she leaned in again. Though she lacked practical experience, it didn’t mean she was without theoretical knowledge.
Applying theory to practice was something she had always excelled at. Her lips pressed against his, moving gently, she gradually parted his thin lips and ventured into the space between them, offering him a bit of guidance…
Xuan Yuan Che’s tightly shut eyes suddenly flew open at that moment. Then, all the restraint he had been holding back was unleashed. He tangled his lips and tongue with hers, delving deeper and deeper, growing more and more intense.
Qin Shu was somewhat surprised. She had thought he was completely inexperienced, but it turned out he was quite skilled. Still, couldn’t he hold back a little? Was he trying to drain her dry?
It had all happened too quickly, and the kiss was so deep that she couldn’t even catch her breath properly. If this continued, she would surely suffocate.
Noticing her growing discomfort, Xuan Yuan Che’s clear consciousness forcibly suppressed his unrestrained desires and broke the kiss. “Shu’er, did I make you uncomfortable?”
As soon as Xuan Yuan Che ended the kiss, Qin Shu immediately took deep, gasping breaths of fresh air. After she had calmed down, she shook her head and said, “It’s… it’s alright. Just don’t use so much force next time. You went too deep, and I couldn’t breathe properly.”
Xuan Yuan Che listened to her speak so naturally, as if this matter were entirely ordinary to her. Recalling how she had taken the initiative to guide him earlier, he couldn’t help but wonder where she had learned such things. Lowering his gaze, he replied in a soft voice, “Mm, this is my first time. I’m not skilled yet. It will be better next time.”
Hearing the tone of Xuan Yuan Che’s words, Qin Shu looked up at him. She felt there was a shadow in his eyes, something slightly off, but he was strongly suppressing it, not letting it show to her.
She didn’t dwell on it and simply followed his lead, saying, “I’ve only read about it in some ‘storybooks.’ It’s my first time too, so I’m not skilled either. At first, when you kissed me and didn’t move, I thought you had no idea what you were doing, so I tried to clumsily guide you. But you turned out to be quite impressive, just a bit too intense.”
Upon hearing this, the shadow that had clouded Xuan Yuan Che’s eyes instantly vanished. He said earnestly, “I’ll be more careful in the future. I promise I won’t make you uncomfortable again.”
Watching the change from gloom to brightness on Xuan Yuan Che’s face, Qin Shu was baffled. What was going on? What had happened? Well, she didn’t feel like overthinking it. She fixed her gaze on Xuan Yuan Che, cleared her throat lightly, and said, “Husband, now that we’ve finished kissing, shouldn’t you let me go? Or do you not plan to let me return to Yuehua Palace and intend to keep me here overnight?”
“Shu’er, if you wish it, of course I would be more than happy to,” Xuan Yuan Che said with a straight face. But as soon as the words left his mouth, he quickly added, “I am already very satisfied tonight. I shouldn’t be greedy. I’ll escort you back to Yuehua Palace.Hearing Xuan Yuan Che’s contradictory statements, Qin Shu couldn’t help but laugh. “Then I’ll trouble you, husband.”
Immediately, Xuan Yuan Che scooped Qin Shu up into his arms, holding her horizontally. Gazing down at the person in his embrace, he said, “It’s no trouble at all. When it comes to you, nothing feels like a burden. If every night could be like this, I would only feel joy and happiness.”
With that, he carried Qin Shu out of the inner chamber, just as he had carried her to the Sacred Sun Palace earlier, and brought her back to her bedchamber in Yuehua Palace. Finally, he left reluctantly.
After the Emperor departed, Xin Lian and Xin Yi came to attend to their mistress, helping her undress and prepare for rest.
Xin Lian pondered for a moment before asking with concern, “Your Highness, you and His Majesty…”
Qin Shu glanced at the two beside her and said, “It’s fine, everything is well. There’s no need to worry.”
Xin Lian and Xin Yi exchanged a look. Hearing their mistress speak this way, it was clear that all was well. In any case, as long as their mistress was unharmed, they could set their minds at ease.
Afterward, Qin Shu lay down on the bed, her mind lingering on that kiss. She raised her hand, her fingertips brushing over her lips, as if the lingering warmth from Xuan Yuan Che’s thin lips remained vividly imprinted upon them. The taste of a first kiss, especially such a wonderful first experience, would never fade away.
Unconsciously, drowsiness crept over her, and gradually she drifted into a sweet dreamland…